Central Electric crews continue to respond to outages occuring as a result of storms passing through our area today. The possibly of outages remains high throughout the afternoon due to the expected arrival of a very strong line of storms.

If you need to report an outage, please visit Central Electric’s Outage Center to view an outage or for information on reporting an outage. Outages can be reported 24-hours a day by calling 1-877-766-6769 or texting “OUT” to 800-446-7752. To use the texting service, you must text “PWR” to 800-446-7752 when using for the first time.

Use these tips to remain safe during and after a thunder storm:

• Avoid wires and water – When lightning strikes a home, the electrical charge can surge through pipes and utility wires. That means you can get zapped if you’re touching water or any device that’s plugged in, whether it’s a landline phone or toaster.
• Skip the makeshift shelter – During a storm, it’s tempting to take cover under a picnic gazebo or golf cart, but in open-sided structures with no conductors to channel strikes, a bolt’s path of least resistance to the ground could be you. If possible, keep moving toward a more suitable structure.
• Portable generators – Take special care with portable generators, which can provide a good source of power, but can become deadly if improperly installed or operated. Do not connect generators directly to household wiring. Power from generators can back-feed along power lines and electrocute anyone coming in contact with them, including co-op line workers making repairs. It’s best to hire a qualified, licensed electrician to install your generator and ensure that it meets local electrical codes.
• Flooded areas – Stay away from downed power lines and avoid walking through flooded areas. Power lines could be submerged and still alive with electricity. Report downed lines to Central Electric by calling 1-877-766-6769 immediately.